Childbirth is an exciting time. You finally get to meet the baby growing inside you for the last 9 months. Show Yet, having a baby can be taxing on your body, especially if you’ve had a cesarean delivery, commonly referred to as a C-section. You’ll need more time to recover than you would after a routine vaginal delivery. Here are six suggestions to help speed up your recovery so you can spend less time sore and tired — and more time bonding with your new baby. A cesarean delivery (C-section) is major surgery. Just like with any surgery, your body needs time to heal afterward. Expect to stay in the hospital for 2 to 4 days after your delivery. If there are complications, your stay will be longer. Give your body 6 to 8 weeks to fully heal. That’s easier said than done. It’s hard to crawl into bed for hours on end when you have a baby who’s demanding lots of attention. You’ve probably heard this advice from well-meaning friends and relatives: “Sleep whenever your baby sleeps.” They’re right. Try to sleep whenever your baby naps. Ask for help from those friends and relatives with diaper changes and housework so you can lie down when possible. Even a few minutes of rest here and there throughout the day can help. Take extra care in getting around while you heal. Follow these tips:
Ask your doctor what pain medications you can take, especially if you’re breastfeeding or chestfeeding. Depending on the level of your discomfort, your doctor might prescribe a pain reliever or advise you to take an over-the-counter (OTC) one, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol). In addition to pain medication, you can use a heating pad to relieve discomfort at the surgical site. Good nutrition is just as important in the months after you deliver as it was while you were pregnant. If you’re breastfeeding or chestfeeding, you’re still your baby’s primary source of nutrition. Eating a variety of foods will keep your baby healthy and help you get stronger. A 2017 study shows that eating fruits and vegetables while breastfeeding imparts flavors in breast milk that increase your child’s enjoyment and consumption of those foods as they grow. Also, drink plenty of fluids, especially water. You need extra fluids to boost your milk supply and to avoid constipation. Your body will continue to undergo physical changes even after your baby is born. Changes you might experience include:
Some of these, like afterpains and lochia, will eventually go away on their own. Treatments and home remedies are available for some of the others. Try the following:
There are a variety of options to help you manage breast engorgement, like:
The 12 weeks after your baby is born are sometimes known as the 4th trimester. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends that people see their OB-GYN or another doctor multiple times during this period. The first assessment should take place no later than 3 weeks postpartum. A comprehensive final visit should occur no later than 12 weeks postpartum. During these checkups, you and your doctor will discuss topics like:
You’ll probably feel some soreness in the incision, and you may have bleeding or discharge for up to 6 weeks after the C-section. That’s expected. However, the following symptoms warrant a call to your doctor, because they could signal an infection:
Also call your doctor if you feel sad and your mood never seems to lift, especially if you have thoughts of hurting your baby or yourself. Finally, if you have a friend or sibling who went through a C-section, try not to compare yourself to them. Every person’s experience with this surgery is different. Focus on your own healing right now and give your body the time it needs to get back to your normal. When should you be concerned after CCall your doctor if you experience: Depression, sadness, hopelessness, or you are having troubling thoughts. Signs of an infection including pain, pus, swelling, redness, swollen lymph nodes, or a fever. A fever of more than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit.
What are the common problems after CSome of the main risks to you of having a caesarean include: infection of the wound (common) – causing redness, swelling, increasing pain and discharge from the wound. infection of the womb lining (common) – symptoms include a fever, tummy pain, abnormal vaginal discharge and heavy vaginal bleeding.
How do I know if my CThe coloration of the c-section scar should start to fade from red to pink, and it should look pretty uniform. The c-section scar should become less tender to the touch as this happens. You shouldn't see anything seeping out of your scar, if so contact your healthcare team to ensure it's healing correctly.
How do you know if you have internal infection after CRedness around the incision. Abnormal swelling around the incision.. A fever over 100.4ºF degrees.. Increasing abdominal pain.. Chills, fatigue, body aches, or flu-like symptoms.. Foul-smelling vaginal discharge.. |